Hedyscepe canterburyana (Umbrella Palm) - A graceful and beautiful single-trunked feather palm that grows slowly to 20 feet tall with a full head of elegant recurved pinnate leaves that come from a blue-green slightly bulbous crown shaft. The trunk is blue green when young and matures to green with regularly and closely spaced ring-like leaf scars. Flowers, which emerge below the crownshaft are not overly showy with ivory-colored male flowers and purple female flowers but are followed by large showy dull red fruit. This palm prefers shade or morning sun when young but can grow up into the sun with age. Give average garden irrigation in a rich well-drained soil. Hardy to 27-28º F. This palm grows best along the Southern California coast where winters are mild and the hot dry Santa Ana winds, which can cause leaf burn, are less severe. We have several fine examples in Santa Barbara including at Ganna Walska Lotusland Botanic Garden and the County Courthouse. It comes from the higher elevations up to 2,250 feet on Lord Howe Island, an island far off the east coast of Australia that is primarily known as being the home of the Kentia Palm, Howea forsteriana and the related Sentry Palm, Howea belmoreana. It is also commonly called the Big Mountain Palm. This plant is listed with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Redlist as VULNERABLE (VU D2) - meaning it is not Critically Endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future but that the population is characterized by an acute restriction in its area of occupancy and thus capable of becoming Critically Endangered or even Extinct in a very short period.
This description is based on our research and observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We will also incorporate comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information about this plant, in particular if this information is contrary to what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Hedyscepe canterburyana.